Guangzhou Port world's fifth largest

With a mighty bound in one year Guangzhou Port had gone from 12th place to fifth in terms of cargo volume among the world's harbors. The south China port handled 300 million tons of goods and 6.6 million TEUs (20-foot equivalent units) in 2006 according to China Securities Journal.

The port is China's third-largest cargo port after Shanghai and Shenzhen.

This sudden spurt of growth comes mainly from Nansha Port, a deep-water development of Guangzhou port designed to cater to international shipping, which came into operation in September 2004.

Nansha, currently with 10 berths, handled 2.41 million TEUs in 2006. It is expected to have an annual capacity of more than 10 million TEUs by 2010. Guangzhou plans to invest RMB27.3 billion (about US$3.55 billion) in port construction in the 2006-2010 period, with 90% of the investment going to building 46 more berths at Nansha.

Source: China View